Mapping the Great Beyond: Identifying Meaningful Networks in

MAPPING THE GREAT BEYOND 39
Figure 16. Project and contact mapping
The mapping exercise analyzed the communities across a country
with which the government engaged via numerous agencies. As can
be seen in Figure 16, the result was a complex network which had a
number of key nodes of influence (nodes were not just individuals
in this process but values including location, education, religion,
organization or institution). Through this process it was possible to
identify organizations or individuals with which various government
agencies were engaging. This helped to identify potential conflicts in
priorities and created an opportunity for these groups to collaborate
or coordinate to increase impact or create more efficient use of
resources.
The clearer lines demonstrate greater levels of contact between
these nodes. Concentrations of color demonstrate the high density of
connections to and around certain points of contact. These may be
physical locations, but may also be delivery partners or a community
defined by their religious beliefs or ethnic origin. Through this
network based approach, key communities or organizations can be
identified. Their importance may be due to their network position
or status in society, but as these vary between different operational
environments each interpretation of importance in a network is
specific to both the context and purpose of a project. This physical